Methods for producing single pluripotent stem cells and differentiation thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the field of pluripotent stem cell culture and methods facilitate pluripotent stem cell culture at industrial levels.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/164,795, filed Jun. 30, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,080,145 (issued Jul. 14, 2015)), which claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/947,444, filed Jul. 1, 2007, the contents of both of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of pluripotent stem cell culture and methods to facilitate pluripotent stem cell culture at industrial levels.

BACKGROUND

Pluripotent stem cells, such as, for example, embryonic stem cells have the ability to differentiate into all adult cell types. As such, embryonic stem cells may be a source of replacement cells and tissue for organs that have been damaged as a result of disease, infection, or congenital abnormalities. The potential for embryonic stem cells to be employed as a replacement cell source is hampered by the difficulty of propagating the cells in vitro while maintaining their pluripotency.

Current methods of culturing undifferentiated embryonic stem cells require complex culture conditions, such as, for example, culturing the embryonic stem cells in the presence of a feeder cell layer. Alternatively, media obtained by exposure to feeder cell cultures may be used to culture embryonic stem cells. Culture systems that employ these methods often use cells obtained from a different species than that of the stem cells being cultivated (xenogeneic cells). Additionally, these culture systems may be supplemented with animal serum.

For example, Reubinoff et al. (Nature Biotechnology 18: 399-404 (2000)) and Thompson et al. (Science 6 Nov. 1998: Vol. 282. no. 5391, pp. 1145-1147) disclose the culture of embryonic stem cell lines from human blastocysts using a mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder cell layer.

In another example, WO2005014799 discloses conditioned medium for the maintenance, proliferation and differentiation of mammalian cells. WO2005014799 state: “The culture medium produced in accordance with the present invention is conditioned by the cell secretion activity of murine cells, in particular, those differentiated and immortalized transgenic hepatocytes, named MMH (Met Murine Hepatocyte).”

However, the use of xenogeneic cells, or xenogeneic cell products, increases the risk that the resulting embryonic stem cell populations produced by such methods may be contaminated viral and/or xeno proteins of immunogenic nature.

Richards et al., (Stem Cells 21: 546-556, 2003) evaluated a panel of 11 different human adult, fetal and neonatal feeder cell layers for their ability to support human embryonic stem cell culture. Richards et al., states: “human embryonic stem cell lines cultured on adult skin fibroblast feeders retain human embryonic stem cell morphology and remain pluripotent”.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,048 discloses media that support the growth of primate pluripotent stem (pPS) cells in feeder-free culture, and cell lines useful for production of such media. U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,048 states: “This invention includes mesenchymal and fibroblast-like cell lines obtained from embryonic tissue or differentiated from embryonic stem cells. Methods for deriving such cell lines, processing media, and growing stem cells using the conditioned media are described and illustrated in this disclosure.”

US20020072117 discloses cell lines that produce media that support the growth of primate pluripotent stem cells in feeder-free culture. The cell lines employed are mesenchymal and fibroblast-like cell lines obtained from embryonic tissue or differentiated from embryonic stem cells. US20020072117 also discloses the use of the cell lines as a primary feeder cell layer.

In another example, Wang et al. (Stem Cells 23: 1221-1227, 2005) disclose methods for the long-term growth of human embryonic stem cells on feeder cell layers derived from human embryonic stem cells.

In another example, Xu et al. (Stem Cells 22: 972-980, 2004) disclose conditioned medium obtained from human embryonic stem cell derivatives that have been genetically modified to over-express human telomerase reverse transcriptase.

In another example, Stojkovic et al. (Stem Cells 2005 23: 306-314, 2005) disclose a feeder cell system derived from the spontaneous differentiation of human embryonic stem cells.

In a further example, Miyamoto et al. (Stem Cells 22: 433-440, 2004) disclose a source of feeder cells obtained from human placenta.

Amit et al. (Biol. Reprod 68: 2150-2156, 2003) disclose a feeder cell layer derived from human foreskin.

In another example, Inzunza et al. (Stem Cells 23: 544-549, 2005) disclose a feeder cell layer from human postnatal foreskin fibroblasts.

An alternative culture system employs serum-free medium supplemented with growth factors capable of promoting the proliferation of embryonic stem cells. For example, Cheon et al. (BioReprod DOI:10.1095/biolreprod.105.046870, Oct. 19, 2005) disclose a feeder-free, serum-free culture system in which embryonic stem cells are maintained in unconditioned serum replacement (SR) medium supplemented with different growth factors capable of triggering embryonic stem cell self-renewal.

In another example, Levenstein et al. (Stem Cells 24: 568-574, 2006) disclose methods for the long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells in the absence of fibroblasts or conditioned medium, using media supplemented with bFGF.

In another example, US20050148070 discloses a method of culturing human embryonic stem cells in defined media without serum and without fibroblast feeder cells, the method comprising: culturing the stem cells in a culture medium containing albumin, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, at least one transferrin or transferrin substitute, at least one insulin or insulin substitute, the culture medium essentially free of mammalian fetal serum and containing at least about 100 ng/ml of a fibroblast growth factor capable of activating a fibroblast growth factor signaling receptor, wherein the growth factor is supplied from a source other than a fibroblast feeder layer, the medium supporting the proliferation of stem cells in an undifferentiated state without feeder cells or conditioned medium.

In another example, US20050233446 discloses a defined media useful in culturing stem cells, including undifferentiated primate primordial stem cells. In solution, the media is substantially isotonic as compared to the stem cells being cultured. In a given culture, the particular medium comprises a base medium and an amount of each of bFGF, insulin, and ascorbic acid necessary to support substantially undifferentiated growth of the primordial stem cells.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,480 states “In one embodiment, a cell culture medium for growing primate-derived primordial stem cells in a substantially undifferentiated state is provided which includes a low osmotic pressure, low endotoxin basic medium that is effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells. The basic medium is combined with a nutrient serum effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells and a substrate selected from the group consisting of feeder cells and an extracellular matrix component derived from feeder cells. The medium further includes non-essential amino acids, an anti-oxidant, and a first growth factor selected from the group consisting of nucleosides and a pyruvate salt.”

In another example, US20050244962 states: “In one aspect the invention provides a method of culturing primate embryonic stem cells. One cultures the stem cells in a culture essentially free of mammalian fetal serum (preferably also essentially free of any animal serum) and in the presence of fibroblast growth factor that is supplied from a source other than just a fibroblast feeder layer. In a preferred form, the fibroblast feeder layer, previously required to sustain a stem cell culture, is rendered unnecessary by the addition of sufficient fibroblast growth factor.”

In a further example, WO2005065354 discloses a defined, isotonic culture medium that is essentially feeder-free and serum-free, comprising: a) a basal medium; b) an amount of bFGF sufficient to support growth of substantially undifferentiated mammalian stem cells; c) an amount of insulin sufficient to support growth of substantially undifferentiated mammalian stem cells; and d) an amount of ascorbic acid sufficient to support growth of substantially undifferentiated mammalian stem cells.

In another example, WO2005086845 discloses a method for maintenance of an undifferentiated stem cell, said method comprising exposing a stem cell to a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) family of proteins, a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of proteins, or nicotinamide (NIC) in an amount sufficient to maintain the cell in an undifferentiated state for a sufficient amount of time to achieve a desired result.

Embryonic stem cells provide a potential resource for research and drug screening. At present, large-scale culturing of human ES cell lines is problematic and provides substantial challenges. A possible solution to these challenges is to passage and culture the human embryonic stem cells as single cells. Single cells are more amenable to standard tissue culture techniques, such as, for example, counting, transfection, and the like.

For example, Nicolas et al. provide a method for producing and expanding hES cell lines from single cells that have been isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) following genetic modification by lentivirus vectors. Stem Cells and Development (2007), 16(1), 109-118.

In another example, US patent application US2005158852 discloses a method “for improving growth and survival of single human embryonic stem cells. The method includes the step of obtaining a single undifferentiated HES cell; mixing the single undifferentiated cell with an extracellular matrix (ECM) to encompass the cell; and inoculating the mixture onto feeder cells with a nutrient medium in a growth environment”.

In another example, Sidhu, K S et al. (Stem Cells Dev. 2006 February; 15(1):61-9.) ‘describe the first report of three human embryonic stem cell (hESC) clones, hES 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, that derived from the parent line hES3 by sorting of single-cell preparations by flow cytometry. The viability of single-cell preparations before and after cell sorting remained >98%”.

However, passage and culture of human embryonic stem cells as single cells leads to genetic abnormalities and the loss of pluripotency. Culture conditions are important in the maintenance of pluripotency and genetic stability. Generally, passage of hES cell lines is conducted manually or with enzymatic agents such as collagenase, liberase or dispase.

For example, Draper J S et al. note the presence of “karytypic changes involving the gain of chromosome 17q in three independent human embryonic stem cell lines on five independent occasions.” (Nat Biotechnol. 2004 January; 22(1):53-4. Epub 2003 Dec. 7).

In another example, Buzzard et al. state, “we have only ever detected one karyotype change event . . . the culture methods used may have had some bearing on our results, given that our methods are distinctly different from those used by most other groups. Typically we passage human ES cells after 7 days by first dissecting the colony with the edge of a broken pipette . . . . No enzymic or chemical methods of cell dissociation are incorporated into this method. We speculate that this may explain the relative cytogenetic resilience of hES cells in our hands.” (Nat Biotechnol. 2004 April; 22(4):381-2; author reply 382).

In another example, Mitalipova M M et al. state “bulk passage methods . . . can perpetuate aneuploid cell populations after extended passage in culture, but may be used for shorter periods (up to at least 15 passages) without compromising the karyotypes . . . it may be possible to maintain a normal karyotype in hES cells under long-term manual propagation conditions followed by limited bulk passaging in experiments requiring greater quantities of hES cells than manual passage methods, alone, can provide”. (Nat Biotechnol. 2005 January; 23(1):19-20).

In another example, Heng B C et al. state “the results demonstrated that the second protocol (trypsinization with gentle pipetting) is much less detrimental to cellular viability than is the first protocol (collagenase treatment with scratching). This in turn translated to higher freeze-thaw survival rates”. (Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry (2007), 47(1), 33-37).

In another example, Hasegawa K. et al. state, “we have established hESC sublines tolerant of complete dissociation. These cells exhibit high replating efficiency and also high cloning efficiency and they maintain their ability to differentiate into the three germ layers.” (Stem Cells. 2006 December; 24(12):2649-60. Epub 2006 Aug. 24). Hasegawa, K et al. further state that “after dissociation into the single cells, hESCs exhibit decreased survival and self-renewal as well as a low replating efficiency.” Hasegawa, K. et al. also state that “24 hours after seeding, the attached and surviving cells were very low in number (approximately 15%), and many floating cells and debris were present in culture for hESCs with the lowest replating efficiencies (phase 1). This was similar to that for the normal hESCs. However, for sublines with greater replating efficiencies (phases 2 and 3), most cells were attached and alive (>85%), and the number of floating cells and the amount of debris were low.”

SUMMARY

The present invention provides methods for the maintenance, passage and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells that have been released as single cells using enzymes. In particular, the present invention provides methods for the maintenance, passage and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells that have been released as single cells with no subsequent loss in pluripotency, and no gain of chromosomal abnormalities.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for differentiating pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) Culturing pluripotent stem cells as clusters,     -   b) Releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells,     -   c) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a tissue culture         substrate, and     -   d) Differentiating the cells.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for maintaining pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) Obtaining pluripotent stem cells,     -   b) Releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells, and     -   c) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a tissue culture         substrate.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for passaging pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) Obtaining clusters of pluripotent stem cells,     -   b) Releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells,     -   c) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a tissue culture         substrate,     -   d) Allowing the single pluripotent stem cells to expand,     -   e) Releasing the single pluripotent stem cells, and     -   f) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a new tissue         culture substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: An image at 4× enlargement of H9ccp33 human ES cells grown on 1:30 reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™ in MEF-conditioned medium.

FIG. 2: Percentage of cells expressing CXCR4 after differentiation treatment to derive definitive endoderm. Dark grey: An average of six DE differentiation experiments with H1 cell clusters (H1 cc) between passages 45 and 55. Black: An average of two DE differentiation experiments with H1 single cells (H1 sc) at passage 47 and 54. White: An average of five DE differentiation experiments with H9 cell clusters (H9 cc) between passages 37 and 55. Light grey: An average of three DE differentiation experiments with H9 single cells (H9 sc) between passages 36 and 48. Error bars represent the standard deviation of replicate experiments.

FIGS. 3A and 3B: Analysis of gene expression by real-time PCR after exposure to 14 or 17 days of the pancreatic endocrine differentiation protocol. FIG. 3A. H9 single cells and cell clusters at passage 37 were analyzed. FIG. 3B. Continuation of H1 p47 and H9 p37 cell clusters and single cells to the pancreatic endoderm stage. Pdx1 expression after days 14 and 17. Gene expression for the indicated markers for untreated cells was set to a value of one for each data set.

FIG. 4: An image is shown at 4× enlargement of H9scp22 human ES single cells grown on 1:30 reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™ in MEF-conditioned medium.

FIG. 5: Evaluation by FACS for pluripotency marker expression of hES cells. The percentage of cells positive for indicated markers is listed on the X-axis.

FIG. 6: Chromosomal spread of H9 hES single cells at passaged 38 times as clusters followed by 20 passages as single cells.

FIG. 7: Comparison of H9 single cells and cell clusters during definitive endoderm differentiation. The percentage of cells positive for CXCR4 is shown after the cells are exposed to the definitive endoderm differentiation protocol. N=2 for H9sc-p and N=5 for H9cc. Error bars represent standard deviation of the mean for replicate experiments.

FIGS. 8A and 8B: Increase in pancreatic endoderm makers after H9 single cells (passage 22) are differentiated. Analysis of gene expression by real-time PCR is shown after 11, 14 or 17 days of pancreatic endocrine differentiation. Values for days 14 and 17 are an average of two wells from a 6 well plate.

FIG. 9A to 9C: hES single cells can be differentiated on MEFs. FACS results from H1scp4 cells grown on MEF feeders and differentiated to definitive endoderm. The definitive endoderm marker CXCR4 (CD184) is expressed in 89% of the cells versus 0% in undifferentiated cells (see FIG. 5).

FIGS. 10A and 10B: hES single cells (H9scp18) can be differentiated in 96 well format to definitive endoderm. Immunofluorescence data for Sox17 positive detection is shown (FIG. 10B). Eight wells were treated with MEF-conditioned medium for the duration of the experiment: MEF media. Eight wells were treated with the basal differentiation medium without components: no compd. Replicate data sets of eight wells were averaged for each data bar. A total of 40 wells were each treated with Wnt3a or Gsk3b inhibitor and averaged for each data set. The error bars represent the standard deviation for each replicate set.

FIG. 11: Pharmacophore screening with hES single cells, (H9scp19). A total of 13 experimental small molecule compounds were tested for their ability to substitute for Wnt3a in the definitive endoderm differentiation protocol. Three effective compounds are shown. The data sets represent an average of Sox17 positive cells in two or more wells. Cells treated with MEF-conditioned medium or basal medium were used as negative controls

FIG. 12: Evaluation of transfection efficiency between H9p33 hES cell clusters and single cells. CMV-GFP was transfected into cells using eight Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, Carlesbad, Calif.) and four or eight μg DNA, black and grey bars respectively.

FIG. 13: Phase Micrographs of H1 hES cells grown on MEFs and then passaged to MATRIGEL™ as clusters or single cells. Passage 37 H1 hES cells passaged from MEFs to MATRIGEL™ with Collagenase form discrete, tightly packed colonies with some loose differentiated cells. H1 hES Cells passed once with Accutase™ or TrypLE™ form a monolayer culture with pockets of tightly packed differentiated cells.

FIG. 14A to 14C: H1 hES cells passaged directly to MATRIGEL™ from MEFS as single cells spontaneously differentiate. FIG. 14A: The percentage of cells remaining in the population after two passages with Accutase™ from MEFs to MATRIGEL™. FIG. 14B: Expression of markers of pluripotency and differentiation in hES cells after two passages with Accutase™ from MEFs to MATRIGEL™. FIG. 14C: Phase Micrographs of H1 hES cells after two passages with Accutase™ from MEFs to MATRIGEL™.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.

Definitions

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells defined by their ability at the single cell level to both self-renew and differentiate to produce progeny cells, including self-renewing progenitors, non-renewing progenitors, and terminally differentiated cells. Stem cells are also characterized by their ability to differentiate in vitro into functional cells of various cell lineages from multiple germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm), as well as to give rise to tissues of multiple germ layers following transplantation and to contribute substantially to most, if not all, tissues following injection into blastocysts.

Stem cells are classified by their developmental potential as: (1) totipotent, meaning able to give rise to all embryonic and extraembryonic cell types; (2) pluripotent, meaning able to give rise to all embryonic cell types; (3) multipotent, meaning able to give rise to a subset of cell lineages, but all within a particular tissue, organ, or physiological system (for example, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) can produce progeny that include HSC (self-renewal), blood cell restricted oligopotent progenitors and all cell types and elements (e.g., platelets) that are normal components of the blood); (4) oligopotent, meaning able to give rise to a more restricted subset of cell lineages than multipotent stem cells; and (5) unipotent, meaning able to give rise to a single cell lineage (e.g., spermatogenic stem cells).

Differentiation is the process by which an unspecialized (“uncommitted”) or less specialized cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as, for example, a nerve cell or a muscle cell. A differentiated or differentiation-induced cell is one that has taken on a more specialized (“committed”) position within the lineage of a cell. The term “committed”, when applied to the process of differentiation, refers to a cell that has proceeded in the differentiation pathway to a point where, under normal circumstances, it will continue to differentiate into a specific cell type or subset of cell types, and cannot, under normal circumstances, differentiate into a different cell type or revert to a less differentiated cell type. De-differentiation refers to the process by which a cell reverts to a less specialized (or committed) position within the lineage of a cell. As used herein, the lineage of a cell defines the heredity of the cell, i.e., which cells it came from and what cells it can give rise to. The lineage of a cell places the cell within a hereditary scheme of development and differentiation. A lineage-specific marker refers to a characteristic specifically associated with the phenotype of cells of a lineage of interest and can be used to assess the differentiation of an uncommitted cell to the lineage of interest.

Various terms are used to describe cells in culture. “Maintenance” refers generally to cells placed in a growth medium under conditions that facilitate cell growth and/or division, that may or may not result in a larger population of the cells. “Passaging” refers to the process of removing the cells from one culture vessel and placing them in a second culture vessel under conditions that facilitate cell growth and/or division.

A specific population of cells, or a cell line, is sometimes referred to or characterized by the number of times it has been passaged. For example, a cultured cell population that has been passaged ten times may be referred to as a P10 culture. The primary culture, i.e., the first culture following the isolation of cells from tissue, is designated P0. Following the first subculture, the cells are described as a secondary culture (P1 or passage 1). After the second subculture, the cells become a tertiary culture (P2 or passage 2), and so on. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that there may be many population doublings during the period of passaging; therefore the number of population doublings of a culture is greater than the passage number. The expansion of cells (i.e., the number of population doublings) during the period between passaging depends on many factors, including but not limited to the seeding density, substrate, medium, growth conditions, and time between passaging.

“AFP” or “alpha-fetoprotein protein” as used herein, refers to an antigen produced at the onset of liver development. AFP may also be expressed in extraembryonic cells.

“β-cell lineage” refer to cells with positive gene expression for the transcription factor PDX-1 and at least one of the following transcription factors: NGN-3, Nkx2.2, Nkx6.1, NeuroD, Isl-1, HNF-3 beta, MAFA, Pax4, and Pax6. Cells expressing markers characteristic of the β cell lineage include β cells.

“Brachyury”, as used herein, is a T-box gene family member. It is the marker for primitive streak and mesoderm cells.

“Cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage” as used herein refer to cells expressing at least one of the following markers: SOX-17, GATA-4, HNF-3 beta, GSC, Cer1, Nodal, FGF8, Brachyury, Mix-like homeobox protein, FGF4 CD48, eomesodermin (EOMES), DKK4, FGF17, GATA-6, CXCR4, C-Kit, CD99, or OTX2. Cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage include primitive streak precursor cells, primitive streak cells, mesendoderm cells and definitive endoderm cells.

“CD99” as used herein refers to the protein encoded by the gene with the accession number NM_002414.

“Cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage” as used herein refer to cells expressing at least one of the following markers: PDX-1, HNF-1beta, PTF-1 alpha, HNF-6, or HB9. Cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage include pancreatic endoderm cells.

“Cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage” as used herein refer to cells expressing at least one of the following markers: NGN-3, NeuroD, Islet-1, PDX-1, NKX6.1, Pax-4, or PTF-1 alpha. Cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage include pancreatic endocrine cells, pancreatic hormone expressing cells, and pancreatic hormone secreting cells, and cells of the β-cell lineage.

“CXCR4” as used herein refers to the stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) receptor, also known as “LESTR” or “fusin”. In the gastrulating mouse embryo, CXCR4 is expressed in the definitive endoderm and mesoderm but not in extraembryonic endoderm.

“Definitive endoderm” as used herein refers to cells which bear the characteristics of cells arising from the epiblast during gastrulation and which form the gastrointestinal tract and its derivatives. Definitive endoderm cells express the following markers: CXCR4, HNF-3 beta, GATA-4, SOX-17, Cerberus, OTX2, goosecoid, c-Kit, CD99, and Mix11.

“Extraembryonic endoderm” as used herein refers to a population of cells expressing at least one of the following markers: SOX-7, AFP, and SPARC.

“GATA-4” and “GATA-6” are members of the GATA transcription factor family. This family of transcription factors is induced by TGF-β signaling and contributes to the maintenance of early endoderm markers.

“GLUT-2”, as used herein, refers to the glucose transporter molecule that is expressed in numerous fetal and adult tissues, including pancreas, liver, intestine, brain, and kidney.

“Goosecoid” or “GSC” as used herein, refers to a homeodomain transcription factor expressed in the dorsal lip of the blastopore.

“Islet-1” or “Isl-1” as used herein is a member of the LIM/homeodomain family of transcription factors, and is expressed in the developing pancreas.

“MafA” as used herein is a transcription factor expressed in the pancreas, and controls the expression of genes involved in insulin biosynthesis and secretion.

“Markers” as used herein, are nucleic acid or polypeptide molecules that are differentially expressed in a cell of interest. In this context, differential expression means an increased level for a positive marker and a decreased level for a negative marker. The detectable level of the marker nucleic acid or polypeptide is sufficiently higher or lower in the cells of interest compared to other cells, such that the cell of interest can be identified and distinguished from other cells using any of a variety of methods known in the art.

“Mesendoderm cell” as used herein refers to a cell expressing at least one of the following markers: CD48, eomesodermin (EOMES), SOX-17, DKK4, HNF-3 beta, GSC, FGF17, GATA-6.

“Nodal” as used herein, is a member of the TGF beta superfamily of proteins.

“Oct-4” is a member of the POU-domain transcription factor and is widely regarded as a hallmark of pluripotent stem cells. The relationship of Oct-4 to pluripotent stem cells is indicated by its tightly restricted expression to undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells. Upon differentiation to somatic lineages, the expression of Oct-4 disappears rapidly.

“Pancreatic endocrine cell” or “pancreatic hormone expressing cell” as used herein refers to a cell capable of expressing at least one of the following hormones: insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide.

“Pancreatic hormone secreting cell” as used herein refers to a cell capable of secreting at least one of the following hormones: insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide.

“Pax-4” and “Pax-6” as used herein are pancreatic 13 cell specific transcription factors that are implicated in islet development.

“PDX-1” as used herein refers to a homeodomain transcription factor implicated in pancreas development.

“Pre-primitive streak cell” as used herein refers to a cell expressing at least one of the following markers: Nodal, or FGF8.

“Primitive streak cell” as used herein refers to a cell expressing at least one of the following markers: Brachyury, Mix-like homeobox protein, or FGF4.

“PTF-1 alpha” as used herein refers to a basic helix-loop-helix protein of 48 kD that is a sequence-specific DNA-binding subunit of the trimeric pancreas transcription factor-1 (PTF1).

“SPARC” as used herein is also known as “secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine”.

“SSEA-1” (Stage Specific Embryonic Antigen-1) is a glycolipid surface antigen present on the surface of murine teratocarcinoma stem cells (EC), murine and human embryonic germ cells (EG), and murine embryonic stem cells (ES).

“SSEA-3” (Stage Specific Embryonic Antigen-3) is a glycolipid surface antigen present on the surface of human teratocarcinoma stem cells (EC), human embryonic germ cells (EG), and human embryonic stem cells (ES).

“SSEA-4” (Stage Specific Embryonic Antigen-4) is a glycolipid surface antigen present on the surface of human teratocarcinoma stem cells (EC), human embryonic germ cells (EG), and human embryonic stem cells (ES).

“TRA1-60” is a keratin sulfate related antigen that is expressed on the surface of human teratocarcinoma stem cells (EC), human embryonic germ cells (EG), and human embryonic stem cells (ES).

“TRA1-81” is a keratin sulfate related antigen that is expressed on the surface of human teratocarcinoma stem cells (EC), human embryonic germ cells (EG), and human embryonic stem cells (ES).

“TRA2-49” is an alkaline phosphatase isozyme expressed on the surface of human teratocarcinoma stem cells (EC) and human embryonic stem cells (ES).

The present invention provides methods for the maintenance, passage and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells that have been released as single cells using enzymes. In particular, the present invention provides methods for the maintenance, passage and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells that have been released as single cells with no subsequent loss in pluripotency, and no gain of chromosomal abnormalities.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for differentiating pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) Culturing the pluripotent stem cells as clusters,     -   b) Releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells,     -   c) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a tissue culture         substrate, and     -   d) Differentiating the single pluripotent stem cells.

The clusters of pluripotent stem cells may be released as single cells by enzymatic treatment. The enzymatic treatment may be by TrypLE™Express (stable trypsin-like enzyme (Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.)), alternatively by TrypLE™Select (animal origin-free trypsin-like enzyme (Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.)), alternatively by Trypsin, or alternatively by Trypsin/EDTA.

The enzymatic treatment may be for about two to about five minutes. Alternatively, the enzymatic treatment is for about five minutes.

The enzymes may be used at a concentration from about 0.5 g/L to about 2.5 g/L enzyme.

In one embodiment, the clusters of pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells using TrypLE™EXPRESS.

In one embodiment, the pluripotent stem cells are embryonic stem cells. In an alternate embodiment, the embryonic stem cells are human.

In one embodiment, the released single pluripotent cells are plated on a tissue culture substrate. The substrate may be MATRIGEL™, alternatively the substrate may be fibronectin, alternatively the substrate may be laminin, alternatively the substrate may be human serum, or alternatively the substrate may be collagen.

In one embodiment, the released single pluripotent cells are plated on a three dimensional support. The support may be incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical agent that facilitates the survival and function of the released single pluripotent cells. Support materials suitable for use for purposes of the present invention include synthetic and natural materials in the form of foams, sponges, gels, hydrogels, textiles, and nonwoven structures.

In one embodiment, the tissue culture substrate is MATRIGEL™. The MATRIGEL™ may be used at a dilution from about 1:30 to about 1:10. In one embodiment, the MATRIGEL™ is used at a dilution of 1:10.

The single pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage. Alternatively, the single pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage. Alternatively, the single pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for maintaining pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) Obtaining clusters of pluripotent stem cells,     -   b) Releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells, and     -   c) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a tissue culture         substrate.

The clusters of pluripotent stem cells may be released as single cells by enzymatic treatment. The enzymatic treatment may be by TrypLE™ Express, alternatively by TrypLE™Select, alternatively by Trypsin, or alternatively by Trypsin/EDTA.

The enzymatic treatment may be for about two to about five minutes. Alternatively, the enzymatic treatment is for about five minutes.

The enzymes may be used at a concentration from about 0.5 g/L to 2.5 g/L enzyme.

In one embodiment, the clusters of pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells using TrypLE™ Express.

In one embodiment, the pluripotent stem cells are embryonic stem cells. In an alternate embodiment, the embryonic stem cells are human.

In one embodiment, the released, single, pluripotent cells are plated on a tissue culture substrate. The substrate may be MATRIGEL™, alternatively, the substrate may be growth factor-reduced MATRIGEL™, alternatively the substrate may be fibronectin, alternatively the substrate may be laminin, alternatively the substrate may be human serum, or alternatively the substrate may be collagen.

In one embodiment, the released single pluripotent cells are plated on a three dimensional support. The support may be incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical agent that facilitates the survival and function of the released single pluripotent cells. Support materials suitable for use for purposes of the present invention include synthetic and natural materials in the form of foams, sponges, gels, hydrogels, textiles, and nonwoven structures.

In one embodiment, the tissue culture substrate is growth factor-reduced MATRIGEL™. The growth factor-reduced MATRIGEL™ may be used at a dilution from about 1:30 to about 1:10. In one embodiment, the MATRIGEL™ is used at a dilution of 1:30.

The single pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage. Alternatively, the single pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage. Alternatively, the single pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for passaging pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) Obtaining clusters of pluripotent stem cells,     -   b) Releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells,     -   c) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a tissue culture         substrate,     -   d) Allowing the single pluripotent stem cells to expand,     -   e) Releasing the single pluripotent stem cells, and     -   f) Plating the single pluripotent stem cells on a new tissue         culture substrate.

The clusters of pluripotent stem cells may be released as single cells by enzymatic treatment. The enzymatic treatment may be by TrypLE™ Express, alternatively by TrypLE™ Select, alternatively by Trypsin, or alternatively by Trypsin/EDTA.

The enzymatic treatment may be for about two to about five minutes. Alternatively, the enzymatic treatment is for about five minutes. The enzymes may be used at a concentration from about 0.5 g/L to 2.5 g/L enzyme.

In one embodiment, the clusters of pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells using TrypLE™ Express.

In one embodiment, the single pluripotent cells are grown to a density of about 70 to 80% before cells are again subjected to enzymatic passaging onto a new tissue culture substrate. The single pluripotent stem cells may be passaged once, or they may be passaged more than once using the methods of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the pluripotent stem cells are embryonic stem cells. In an alternate embodiment, the embryonic stem cells are human.

In one embodiment, the released single pluripotent cells are plated on a tissue culture substrate. The substrate may be MATRIGEL™, alternatively, the substrate may be growth factor-reduced MATRIGEL™, alternatively the substrate may be fibronectin, alternatively the substrate may be laminin, alternatively the substrate may be human serum or alternatively the substrate may be collagen.

In one embodiment, the released single pluripotent cells are plated on a three dimensional support. The support may be incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical agent that facilitates the survival and function of the released single pluripotent cells. Support materials suitable for use for purposes of the present invention include synthetic and natural materials in the form of foams, sponges, gels, hydrogels, textiles, and nonwoven structures.

In one embodiment, the tissue culture substrate is growth factor-reduced MATRIGEL™. The growth factor-reduced MATRIGEL™ may be used at a dilution from about 1:30 to about 1:10. In one embodiment, the MATRIGEL™ is used at a dilution of 1:30.

Other Methods for Isolation, Expansion and Culture of Pluripotent Stem Cells Characterization of Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells may express one or more of the stage-specific embryonic antigens (SSEA) 3 and 4, and markers detectable using antibodies designated Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81 (Thomson et al., Science 282:1145, 1998). Differentiation of pluripotent stem cells in vitro results in the loss of SSEA-4, Tra-1-60, and Tra-1-81 expression (if present) and increased expression of SSEA-1. Undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells typically have alkaline phosphatase activity, which can be detected by fixing the cells with 4% paraformaldehyde and then developing with Vector Red as a substrate, as described by the manufacturer (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame Calif.) Undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells also typically express Oct-4 and TERT, as detected by RT-PCR.

Another desirable phenotype of propagated pluripotent stem cells is a potential to differentiate into cells of all three germinal layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm tissues. Pluripotency of stem cells can be confirmed, for example, by injecting cells into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, fixing the teratomas that form using 4% paraformaldehyde, and then examining them histologically for evidence of cell types from the three germ layers. Alternatively, pluripotency may be determined by the creation of embryoid bodies and assessing the embryoid bodies for the presence of markers associated with the three germinal layers.

Propagated pluripotent stem cell lines may be karyotyped using a standard G-banding technique and compared to published karyotypes of the corresponding primate species. It is desirable to obtain cells that have a “normal karyotype,” which means that the cells are euploid, wherein all human chromosomes are present and not noticeably altered.

Sources of Pluripotent Stem Cells

The types of pluripotent stem cells that may be used include established lines of pluripotent cells derived from tissue formed after gestation, including pre-embryonic tissue (such as, for example, a blastocyst), embryonic tissue, or fetal tissue taken any time during gestation, typically but not necessarily before approximately 10-12 weeks gestation. Non-limiting examples are established lines of human embryonic stem cells or human embryonic germ cells, such as, for example the human embryonic stem cell lines H1, H7, and H9 (WiCell). Also contemplated is use of the compositions of this disclosure during the initial establishment or stabilization of such cells, in which case the source cells would be primary pluripotent cells taken directly from the source tissues. Also suitable are cells taken from a pluripotent stem cell population already cultured in the absence of feeder cells. Also suitable are mutant human embryonic stem cell lines, such as, for example, BG01v (BresaGen, Athens, Ga.).

In one embodiment, human embryonic stem cells are prepared as described by Thomson et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,780; Science 282:1145, 1998; Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. 38:133 ff., 1998; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92:7844, 1995).

Culture of Pluripotent Stem Cells

In one embodiment, pluripotent stem cells are typically cultured on a layer of feeder cells that support the pluripotent stem cells in various ways. Alternatively, pluripotent stem cells are cultured in a culture system that is essentially free of feeder cells, but nonetheless supports proliferation of pluripotent stem cells without undergoing substantial differentiation. The growth of pluripotent stem cells in feeder-free culture without differentiation is supported using a medium conditioned by culturing previously with another cell type. Alternatively, the growth of pluripotent stem cells in feeder-free culture without differentiation is supported using a chemically defined medium.

For example, Reubinoff et al. (Nature Biotechnology 18: 399-404 (2000)) and Thompson et al. (Science 6 Nov. 1998: Vol. 282. no. 5391, pp. 1145-1147) disclose the culture of pluripotent stem cell lines from human blastocysts using a mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder cell layer.

Richards et al., (Stem Cells 21: 546-556, 2003) evaluated a panel of 11 different human adult, fetal and neonatal feeder cell layers for their ability to support human pluripotent stem cell culture. Richards et al., state: “human embryonic stem cell lines cultured on adult skin fibroblast feeders retain human embryonic stem cell morphology and remain pluripotent”.

US20020072117 discloses cell lines that produce media that support the growth of primate pluripotent stem cells in feeder-free culture. The cell lines employed are mesenchymal and fibroblast-like cell lines obtained from embryonic tissue or differentiated from embryonic stem cells. US20020072117 also discloses the use of the cell lines as a primary feeder cell layer.

In another example, Wang et al. (Stem Cells 23: 1221-1227, 2005) discloses methods for the long-term growth of human pluripotent stem cells on feeder cell layers derived from human embryonic stem cells.

In another example, Stojkovic et al. (Stem Cells 23: 306-314, 2005) disclose a feeder cell system derived from the spontaneous differentiation of human embryonic stem cells.

In a further example, Miyamoto et al. (Stem Cells 22: 433-440, 2004) disclose a source of feeder cells obtained from human placenta.

Amit et al. (Biol. Reprod 68: 2150-2156, 2003) discloses a feeder cell layer derived from human foreskin.

In another example, Inzunza et al. (Stem Cells 23: 544-549, 2005) disclose a feeder cell layer from human postnatal foreskin fibroblasts.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,048 discloses media that support the growth of primate pluripotent stem (pPS) cells in feeder-free culture, and cell lines useful for production of such media. U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,048 states: “This invention includes mesenchymal and fibroblast-like cell lines obtained from embryonic tissue or differentiated from embryonic stem cells. Methods for deriving such cell lines, processing media, and growing stem cells using the conditioned media are described and illustrated in this disclosure.”

In another example, WO2005014799 discloses conditioned medium for the maintenance, proliferation and differentiation of mammalian cells. WO2005014799 states: “The culture medium produced in accordance with the present invention is conditioned by the cell secretion activity of murine cells, in particular, those differentiated and immortalized transgenic hepatocytes, named MMH (Met Murine Hepatocyte).”

In another example, Xu et al. (Stem Cells 22: 972-980, 2004) discloses conditioned medium obtained from human embryonic stem cell derivatives that have been genetically modified to over express human telomerase reverse transcriptase.

In another example, US20070010011 discloses a chemically defined culture medium for the maintenance of pluripotent stem cells.

An alternative culture system employs serum-free medium supplemented with growth factors capable of promoting the proliferation of embryonic stem cells. For example, Cheon et al. (BioReprod DOI:10.1095/biolreprod.105.046870, Oct. 19, 2005) disclose a feeder-free, serum-free culture system in which embryonic stem cells are maintained in unconditioned serum replacement (SR) medium supplemented with different growth factors capable of triggering embryonic stem cell self-renewal.

In another example, Levenstein et al. (Stem Cells 24: 568-574, 2006) disclose methods for the long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells in the absence of fibroblasts or conditioned medium, using media supplemented with bFGF.

In another example, US20050148070 discloses a method of culturing human embryonic stem cells in defined media without serum and without fibroblast feeder cells, the method comprising: culturing the stem cells in a culture medium containing albumin, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, at least one transferrin or transferrin substitute, at least one insulin or insulin substitute, the culture medium essentially free of mammalian fetal serum and containing at least about 100 ng/ml of a fibroblast growth factor capable of activating a fibroblast growth factor signaling receptor, wherein the growth factor is supplied from a source other than just a fibroblast feeder layer, the medium supporting the proliferation of stem cells in an undifferentiated state without feeder cells or conditioned medium.

In another example, US20050233446 discloses a defined medium useful in culturing stem cells, including undifferentiated primate primordial stem cells. In solution, the medium is substantially isotonic as compared to the stem cells being cultured. In a given culture, the particular medium comprises a base medium and an amount each of bFGF, insulin, and ascorbic acid necessary to support substantially undifferentiated growth of the primordial stem cells.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,480 states, “In one embodiment, a cell culture medium for growing primate-derived primordial stem cells in a substantially undifferentiated state is provided which includes a low osmotic pressure, low endotoxin basic medium that is effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells. The basic medium is combined with a nutrient serum effective to support the growth of primate-derived primordial stem cells and a substrate selected from the group consisting of feeder cells and an extracellular matrix component derived from feeder cells. The medium further includes non-essential amino acids, an anti-oxidant, and a first growth factor selected from the group consisting of nucleosides and a pyruvate salt.”

In another example, US20050244962 states: “In one aspect the invention provides a method of culturing primate embryonic stem cells. One cultures the stem cells in a culture essentially free of mammalian fetal serum (preferably also essentially free of any animal serum) and in the presence of fibroblast growth factor that is supplied from a source other than just a fibroblast feeder layer. In a preferred form, the fibroblast feeder layer, previously required to sustain a stem cell culture, is rendered unnecessary by the addition of sufficient fibroblast growth factor.”

In a further example, WO2005065354 discloses a defined, isotonic culture medium that is essentially feeder-free and serum-free, comprising: a) a basal medium; b) an amount of bFGF sufficient to support growth of substantially undifferentiated mammalian stem cells; c) an amount of insulin sufficient to support growth of substantially undifferentiated mammalian stem cells; and d) an amount of ascorbic acid sufficient to support growth of substantially undifferentiated mammalian stem cells.

In another example, WO2005086845 discloses a method for maintenance of an undifferentiated stem cell, said method comprising exposing a stem cell to a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) family of proteins, a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of proteins, or nicotinamide (NIC) in an amount sufficient to maintain the cell in an undifferentiated state for a sufficient amount of time to achieve a desired result.

The pluripotent stem cells may be plated onto a suitable culture substrate. In one embodiment, the suitable culture substrate is an extracellular matrix component, such as, for example, those derived from basement membrane or that may form part of adhesion molecule receptor-ligand couplings. In one embodiment, the suitable culture substrate is MATRIGEL™ (Becton Dickenson). MATRIGEL™ is a soluble preparation from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor cells that gels at room temperature to form a reconstituted basement membrane.

Other extracellular matrix components and component mixtures are suitable as an alternative. Depending on the cell type being proliferated, this may include laminin, fibronectin, proteoglycan, entactin, heparan sulfate, and the like, alone or in various combinations.

The pluripotent stem cells may be plated onto the substrate in a suitable distribution and in the presence of a medium that promotes cell survival, propagation, and retention of the desired characteristics. All these characteristics benefit from careful attention to the seeding distribution and can readily be determined by one of skill in the art.

Suitable culture media may be made from the following components, such as, for example, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), Gibco #11965-092; Knockout Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (KO DMEM), Gibco #10829-018; Ham's F12/50% DMEM basal medium; 200 mM L-glutamine, Gibco #15039-027; non-essential amino acid solution, Gibco 11140-050; (3-mercaptoethanol, Sigma #M7522; human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), Gibco #13256-029.

Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells

In one embodiment of the present invention, pluripotent stem cells are propagated in culture, while maintaining their pluripotency. Changes in pluripotency of the cells with time can be determined by detecting changes in the levels of expression of markers associated with pluripotency. Alternatively, changes in pluripotency can be monitored by detecting changes in the levels of expression of markers associated with differentiation or markers associated with another cell type.

In an alternate embodiment, pluripotent stem cells are propagated in culture and then treated in a manner that promotes their differentiation into another cell type. The other cell type may be a cell expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage. Alternatively, the cell type may be a cell expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage. Alternatively, the cell type may be a cell expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage. Alternatively, the cell type may be a cell expressing markers characteristic of the n-cell lineage.

Pluripotent stem cells treated in accordance with the methods of the present invention may be differentiated into a variety of other cell types by any suitable method in the art. For example, pluripotent stem cells treated in accordance with the methods of the present invention may be differentiated into neural cells, cardiac cells, hepatocytes, and the like.

For example, pluripotent stem cells treated in accordance with the methods of the present invention may be differentiated into neural progenitors and cardiomyocytes according to the methods disclosed in WO2007030870.

In another example, pluripotent stem cells treated in accordance with the methods of the present invention may be differentiated into hepatocytes according to the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,589.

Formation of Cells Expressing Markers Characteristic of the Definitive Endoderm Lineage

Pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage by any method in the art.

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage according to the methods disclosed in D'Amour et al., Nature Biotechnology 23, 1534-1541 (2005).

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage according to the methods disclosed in Shinozaki et al., Development 131, 1651-1662 (2004).

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage according to the methods disclosed in McLean et al., Stem Cells 25, 29-38 (2007).

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage according to the methods disclosed in D'Amour et al., Nature Biotechnology 24, 1392-1401 (2006).

Markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage are selected from the group consisting of SOX17, GATA4, Hnf-3beta, GSC, Cer1, Nodal, FGF8, Brachyury, Mix-like homeobox protein, FGF4 CD48, eomesodermin (EOMES), DKK4, FGF17, GATA6, CXCR4, C-Kit, CD99, and OTX2. Suitable for use in the present invention is a cell that expresses at least one of the markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage. In one aspect of the present invention, a cell expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage is a primitive streak precursor cell. In an alternate aspect, a cell expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage is a mesendoderm cell. In an alternate aspect, a cell expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage is a definitive endoderm cell.

Formation of Cells Expressing Markers Characteristic of the Pancreatic Endoderm Lineage

Pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage by any method in the art.

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage according to the methods disclosed in D'Amour et al., Nature Biotechnology 24, 1392-1401 (2006).

Markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage are selected from the group consisting of Pdx1, HNF-1beta, PTF1a, HNF-6, HB9 and PROX1. Suitable for use in the present invention is a cell that expresses at least one of the markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage. In one aspect of the present invention, a cell expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endoderm lineage is a pancreatic endoderm cell.

Formation of Cells Expressing Markers of the Pancreatic Endocrine Lineage

Pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage by any method in the art.

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage according to the methods disclosed in D'Amour et al., Nature Biotechnology 24, 1392-1401 (2006).

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage, by the methods disclosed in Nature Biotechnology 24, 1392-1401 (2006).

For example, pluripotent stem cells may be differentiated into cells expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage, by the methods disclosed in D'Amour et al., Nature Biotechnology, 2006.

Markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage are selected from the group consisting of NGN-3, NeuroD, Islet-1, Pdx-1, NKX6.1, Pax-4, and PTF-1 alpha. In one embodiment, a pancreatic endocrine cell is capable of expressing at least one of the following hormones: insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Suitable for use in the present invention is a cell that expresses at least one of the markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage. In one aspect of the present invention, a cell expressing markers characteristic of the pancreatic endocrine lineage is a pancreatic endocrine cell. The pancreatic endocrine cell may be a pancreatic hormone-expressing cell. Alternatively, the pancreatic endocrine cell may be a pancreatic hormone-secreting cell.

In one aspect of the present invention, the pancreatic endocrine cell is a cell expressing markers characteristic of the β cell lineage. A cell expressing markers characteristic of the β cell lineage expresses Pdx1 and at least one of the following transcription factors: NGN-3, Nkx2.2, Nkx6.1, NeuroD, Isl-1, HNF-3 beta, MAFA, Pax4, and Pax6. In one aspect of the present invention, a cell expressing markers characteristic of the β cell lineage is a β cell.

Three Dimensional Supports

Support materials suitable for use for purposes of the present invention include synthetic and natural materials in the form of foams, sponges, gels, hydrogels, textiles, and nonwoven structures, which have been used in vitro and in vivo to reconstruct or regenerate biological tissue, as well as to deliver chemotactic agents for inducing tissue growth, are suitable for use in practicing the methods of the present invention. See, for example, the materials disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,770,417, 6,022,743, 5,567,612, 5,759,830, 6,626,950, 6,534,084, 6,306,424, 6,365,149, 6,599,323, 6,656,488, U.S. Published Application 2004/0062753 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,557,264 and 6,333,029.

To form a support incorporated with a pharmaceutical agent, the pharmaceutical agent can be mixed with the polymer solution prior to forming the support. Alternatively, a pharmaceutical agent could be coated onto a fabricated support, preferably in the presence of a pharmaceutical carrier. The pharmaceutical agent may be present as a liquid, a finely divided solid, or any other appropriate physical form. Alternatively, excipients may be added to the support to alter the release rate of the pharmaceutical agent. In an alternate embodiment, the support is incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical compound that is an anti-inflammatory compound, such as, for example compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,369.

The support may be incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical compound that is an anti-apoptotic compound, such as, for example, compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,945.

The support may also be incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical compound that is an inhibitor of fibrosis, such as, for example, compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,298.

The support may also be incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical compound that is capable of enhancing angiogenesis, such as, for example, compounds disclosed in U.S. Published Application 2004/0220393 and U.S. Published Application 2004/0209901.

The support may also be incorporated with at least one pharmaceutical compound that is an immunosuppressive compound, such as, for example, compounds disclosed in U.S. Published Application 2004/0171623.

The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited by, the following examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Passage and Maintenance of hESC as Cell Clusters

The human embryonic stem cell lines H1 and H9 were maintained on mitomycin C inactivated primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF). The hES cells were switched from MEF feeders to MATRIGEL™ over repeated passages.

MATRIGEL™ coating of tissue culture dishes: Growth Factor Reduced MATRIGEL™ (Becton-Dickinson, Bedford, Mass.) was thawed at 4° C. and then diluted 1:30 in cold DMEM/F12 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Volumes sufficient to cover were added to each 6 cm dish (2 ml) or each well of a 6 well plate (1 ml), and incubated 1 hr at room temp. Plates were used within a few hours or stored at 4° C. up to two weeks.

Human embryonic stem cell culture: Undifferentiated human embryonic stem cell colonies (H9 and H1) were harvested from feeder layers by incubation in 1 mg/ml collagenase IV (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) in DMEM/F12 for 10 minutes, followed by scraping with a pipette. Cell clumps were pelleted by centrifugation at 1000 rpm for four minutes and the pellet dispersed gently with a 2 ml pipet to break colonies into small clusters of cells. These cell clusters were seeded onto MATRIGEL™-coated dishes in MEF-CM supplemented with bFGF (8 ng/ml; R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.), 50-150 colonies per 6 cm dish in 5 ml growth medium. Medium was changed daily. Colonies on MATRIGEL™ in MEF-CM became large and were passed when they occupied 70-80% of the surface area, approximately every 3-4 days. The hES cells in the colonies had a high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio and had prominent nucleoli, similar to hES cells maintained on feeders (FIG. 1). Differentiated cells represented less than 5% of total cells in culture.

For routine passage of cells in MEF-CM on MATRIGEL™, cells were incubated in 1 mg/ml collagenase IV in DMEM/F12 for up to 60 minutes and removed from the dishes by forceful streams of DMEM/F12 with scraping. Cells were pelleted, dispersed, and seeded at a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio.

Example 2 Passage of Human Embryonic Stem Cells as Single Cells: Evaluation of Enzymes

To facilitate the ease of handling hES cells, passaging techniques may use other enzymatic solutions which need a shorter incubation time and do not include a scraping step. Additionally, passaging cells as cell clusters with collagenase does not allow for numeric quantification of the cells that are seeded. Many enzymatic solutions are available to release single cells in one rapid step. A fast acting enzyme that causes minimal cell damage and does not impede cell attachment or cell growth was identified by the following experiment.

Human embryonic stem cells H9p33 cells grown in clusters in a 6 well dish were incubated with the following enzymes; TrypLE™ Express (stable tryspin-like enzyme (Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.)), TrypLE™ Select (animal origin-free trypsin-like enzyme Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.)), trypsin/EDTA (0.05%), or trypsin (0.25%), for two minutes at 36° C. All enzymes released the cells within two minutes except trypsin. Release with trypsin was achieved after five minutes at 36° C. Cells were reseeded at 200,000 cells/well into a 6 well plate coated with MATRIGEL™ and allowed to expand for three days. Human embryonic stem cells were also passed as clusters with collagenase (30 minute incubation) and reseeded at a 1:5 dilution on MATRIGEL™-coated wells, similar to the counted TrypLE™ Express cells. After three days, the hESC were released by a five minute incubation with TrypLE™ Express. Cells were incubated with 0.01% trypan blue and then counted (Table 1). Cell viability immediately after release was greater than 98% for all enzymes tested. Passage of human embryonic stem cells with collagenase is the standard passaging method. After three days culture, both TrypLE™ Select and TrypLE™ Express yielded recovered cell counts similar to collagenase. Trypsin/EDTA and trypsin were significantly less effective at maintaining cell attachment/growth. TrypLE™ Select and TrypLE™ Express were the best enzymes evaluated and were further tested in a time course experiment, Example 3.

Example 3 Passage of Human Embryonic Stem Cells as Single Cells: Optimization of Enzyme Exposure Time

TrypLE™ Select and TrypLE™ Express proved optimal of all enzymes tested. To determine the ideal incubation time for these enzymes with hES cells, TrypLE™ Select and TrypLE™ Express were incubated with H9p34 hESC clusters for two minutes or 10 minutes at 37° C. Cells were removed from the well, counted, and pelleted by centrifugation. Aliquots of 200,000 cells/well were seeded into a 6 well plate. Cells were grown for three days followed by release with TrypLE™ Express and counting in the presence of 0.01% trypan blue.

Cell viability was greater than 98% for both enzymes for both incubation times. Table II indicates the number of recovered cells/well 36 hrs after seeding. Cells passed with TrypLE™ Express reached the initial seeding density after three days. This indicates that the majority of cells do not reattach after seeding; however, the cells that do attach are able to proliferate and expand. Assuming that the cells expand at the same rate once attached, these data demonstrate that a treatment of two minutes with TrypLE™ Express results in the best attachment rate. TrypLE™ Express treatments for two minutes were then used for making single cells in all subsequent experiments.

Example 4 Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Single Cells and Cell Clusters to Definitive Endoderm

Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into multiple cell lineages. Human ES cells passaged as single cells offer a significant improvement to aid in cell input quantification and ease of handling. The ability of these single hES cells to differentiate was determined.

Seeding of Cell Clusters and Single Cells:

A 6 cm plate of H9 or H1 cell clusters on reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™ was incubated with 2 ml collagenase (1 mg/ml) in DMEM:F12 for up to 60 minutes at 37° C. The cells were removed by pipetting and scraping and centrifuged for 4 minutes at 900 rpm. The cell clusters were then seeded into a 6 well plate coated with 1:15 or 1:30 reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™. This passaging method resulted in seeding cell clusters (cc). Alternatively, a 6 cm plate of H9 or H1 cell clusters on reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™ were incubated with TrypLE™ Express (2 ml) for 5 minutes at 37° C. and dispersed by pipetting. Following centrifugation at 900 rpm for 4 minutes, the cells were then seeded into a 6 well plated coated with 1:10 reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™ and named single cells (sc).

Definitive Endoderm Differentiation:

H9 and H1 sc and cc cultures at approximately 60 to 70% confluency were exposed to DMEM:F12 medium supplemented with 0.5% FBS, 10 ng/ml Wnt3a (R&D Systems) and 100 ng/ml Activin A (AA; R&D Systems) for two days, followed by treatment with DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 2% FBS and 100 ng/ml activin A for an additional three days.

The cultures were analyzed by FACS for CXCR4, CD99, and CD9 expression and by real time PCR for SOX-17, SOX-7, Alpha-fetal protein (AFP), CXCR4, Brychyury (Bry), goosecoid (GSC), HNF-3 beta, and GATA4. AFP and SOX-7 are regarded as visceral endoderm markers, while GATA4, HNF-3 beta and SOX-17 represent definite endoderm markers, and GSC, Bry, and CXCR4 represent markers of primitive streak. Single cells differentiated to DE to a similar extent as cell clusters, as observed through the percentage of resulting CXCR4 positive cells (FIG. 2).

Example 5 Differentiation of hES Single Cells and Cell Clusters to Pancreatic Endoderm

Further differentiation, following a protocol published by Novocell (D'Amour, K E et al., Nature Biotechnology (2006), 24(11), 1392-1401.) with modifications, was also tested to determine the differentiation capacity of the hES single cells. The cells were further differentiated into pancreatic endoderm following the DE protocol described in Example 4.

Pancreatic Endoderm Differentiation:

One of the H9 (p37) DE experiments, using both cell clusters and single cells from example 4, was further differentiated to pancreatic endoderm. After completion of the definitive endoderm protocol, the cells were incubated for 3 days with FGF10 (50 ng/ml; R&D Systems), the sonic hedgehog inhibitor, KAAD cyclopamine (2.5 μM; Sigma-Aldrich) and 2% FBS in DMEM:F12 medium. Following, cells were incubated an additional three days with FGF10 (50 ng/ml), KAAD cyclopamine (2.5 μM), Retinoic Acid (1 μM; Sigma-Aldrich) and 1% B27 (Invitrogen) in DMEM-low glucose. Following, cells were incubated an additional three days in Exendin 4 (50 ng/ml; Sigma-Aldrich), DAPT (1 μM; Calbiochem), and 1% B27 in DMEM-low glucose. RNA samples were taken from one well of a 6 well plate for each cell type and then analyzed by real-time PCR at this step for pancreatic markers Pdx1, Nkx6.1, Nkx2.2, Pax4, NeuroD, HNF3b, Ptf1a, Insulin and AFP. Differentiation was continued for three days with CMRL medium (Invitrogen) containing 50 ng/ml, HGF, IGF (R&D Systems), and Exendin 4 (50 ng/ml), and 1% B27. Evaluation of the same pancreatic endoderm markers was repeated at this stage. RNA samples from untreated hES cells of the same line were subjected to real-time PCR in parallel to treated samples. Treated samples were normalized to untreated controls set to a fold change of one. Pdx1 expression was monitored and compared between single cells and cell clusters. Induction of pancreatic endoderm marker expression was equivalent between the single cells and the cell clusters (FIGS. 3A and 3B). Therefore, the hES single cells have a similar inherent capacity to differentiate as hES cell clusters.

Example 6 Passage of hES Cells as Single Cells

Passage of hES cells as single cells would aid in the ability to scale-up cultures and facilitate a manufacturing process.

Description of Single Cell Generation and Passage:

H9 cells were grown as clusters on MATRIGEL™ as described above. At passage 38, a 6 cm plate of H9 cells was incubated with 2 ml TrypLE™ Express for 5 minutes at 37° C. The cells were resuspended in DMEM:F12 and centrifuged for 4 minutes at 900 rpm. The cells were reseeded at a 1:4 ratio onto 1:30 growth factor reduced MATRIGEL™ coated plates. After approximately five passages, the cells were counted before reseeding and plated at a density of 14,000 cells/cm². Passage and reseeding at this density continued at intervals of every four days. The cells retained a compact structure as they grew out of single cells but never formed tight clusters (compare FIG. 1 and FIG. 4).

Example 7 Analysis of hES Single Cell Pluripotency

Maintenance of hES cell pluripotency is necessary with any passaging technique. Therefore, the single cells were evaluated for pluripotency after multiple passages with TrypLE™ Express.

FACS Pluripotency Analysis:

H9 single cells were cultured 38 passages as clusters followed by 16 passages as single cells including one cryopreservation freeze-thaw. The cells were then analyzed by FACS for the expression of pluripotency markers. Adherent cells were removed from culture plates using a 5 minute incubation with TrypLE™ Express solution. Released cells were resuspended in DMEM:F12 medium and recovered by centrifugation, followed by washing and resuspending in a staining buffer consisting of 2% BSA (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.), 0.05% sodium azide in PBS. As appropriate, the cells were Fc-receptor blocked for 15 minutes using a 0.1% gamma globulin (Sigma) solution. Aliquots (approximately 10⁵ cells) were incubated with either phycoerythirin (PE) or allophycocyanin (APC) conjugated monoclonal antibodies (5 μl antibody per 10⁶ cells), as indicated in Table III, or with an unconjugated primary antibody. Controls included appropriate isotype matched antibodies, unstained cells, and cells stained only with secondary conjugated antibody. All incubations with antibodies were performed for 30 minutes at 4° C. after which the cells were washed with the staining buffer. Samples that were stained with unconjugated primary antibodies were incubated for an additional 30 minutes at 4° C. with secondary conjugated PE or APC labeled antibodies. See Table III for a list of secondary antibodies used. Washed cells were pelleted and resuspended in the staining buffer, and the cell surface molecules were identified using a FACS Array (BD Biosciences) instrument, collecting at least 10,000 events. hESC collagenase passaged H1p40 and H9scp16 have equivalent pluripotency protein expression profiles (FIG. 5).

Example 8 Analysis of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Single Cell Karyotype Stability

The karyotype of hES single cells should remain stable over multiple passages. H9 single cells were cultured 38 passages as clusters followed by multiple passages as single cells. The karyotype of H9 cells was determined by standard G-banding karyotype analysis (Cell Line Genetics, Madison, Wis.). A total of 20 G-banded cells were evaluated and 200 interphase nuclei were analyzed by FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). No chromosome aberrations were found in the cells analyzed. Cytogenetic analysis showed that the cells had a normal number of autosomes and a modal chromosome number of 46. Karyotyping of H9 single cells was conducted at passage 13 and passage 20. Passage 20 cells had undergone one cryopreservation freeze-thaw event. Passage 13 and 20 cells were karyotypically normal (FIG. 6).

Example 9 Differentiation of hES Single Cells and hES Cell Clusters to Definitive Endoderm

For ultimate utility, hES cells passaged as single cells must retain their differentiation potential. Single cells were subjected to the definitive endoderm protocol as follows. H9 cells after multiple passages with TrypLE™ Express (sc-p), were released with TrypLE™ Express (sc) from passed single cells (passage 6 and 21) onto MATRIGEL™ (1:10 dilution) for differentiation. H9 sc, at approximately 60 to 70% confluent monolayers, were exposed to DMEM:F12 medium supplemented with 0.5% FBS, 10 ng/ml Wnt3a and 100 ng/ml activin A for two days, followed by treatment with DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 2% FBS and 100 ng/ml Activin A for an additional three days.

At day 5, the cells were analyzed by FACS for CXCR4, CD99, and CD9 expression and by real time PCR for SOX-17, SOX-7, Alpha-fetal protein (AFP), CXCR4, Brychyury (Bry), gooscecoid (GSC), HNF-3 beta, and GATA4. AFP and SOX-7 are regarded as visceral endoderm markers, while GATA4, HNF-3 beta and SOX-17 represent definite endoderm markers, and GSC, Bry, and CXCR4 represent markers of primitive streak. Single cells passed multiple times (passage 6 and 21) retain their ability to differentiate into DE, similar to cell clusters (passage 36-55) (FIG. 7).

Example 10 Differentiation of hES Single Cells to Pancreatic Endoderm

Cells were further differentiated into pancreatic endoderm adhering to the following steps; three day incubation with FGF10 (50 ng/ml), the sonic hedgehog inhibitor, KAAD cyclopamine (2.5 μM), and 2% FBS in DMEM:F12 medium, followed by three days with FGF10 (50 ng/ml), KAAD cyclopamine (2.5 μM), Retinoic Acid (1 μM) and 1% B27 in DMEM-low glucose. Evaluation of the cells was performed at day 11. Some cultures continued treatment for three days in Exendin 4 (50 ng/ml), DAPT (1 μM), and 1% B27 in DMEM-low glucose. At day 14, samples were analyzed for pancreatic markers Pdx1, Nkx6.1, Nkx2.2, Pax4, NeuroD, HNF3b, Ptf1a, Insulin and AFP by real-time PCR. Some cultures continued differentiation for an additional three days with CMRL medium containing 50 ng/ml, HGF, IGF, and Exendin 4, and 1% B27. Evaluation of the same pancreatic endoderm markers was repeated at the end of day 17. Pancreatic endoderm markers, Nkx2.2, NeuroD, HNF6, HNF3b, were predominantly expressed at the end of days 14 and 17 (FIG. 8A). Pdx1 expression increased stepwise at each stage of treatment (FIG. 8B).

Example 11 Differentiating hES Single Cells on MEF Feeders

To achieve optimal differentiation of hES cells to pancreatic endoderm, the definitive endoderm population must be maximal. Currently, growing hES on MEF feeders results in the highest achievable levels of definitive endoderm and pancreatic endoderm. To determine if the hES single cells are able to achieve this end, H1scp4 were seeded onto MEF feeders at 14,000 cells/cm². The cells were grown in ES cell medium containing 20% Knock-out Serum Replacement (Invitrogen), 1× non-essential Amino Acids (Invitrogen), 8 ng/ml bFGF, 1 mM L-glutamine and 1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol solution in DMEM-F12. After 7 days cells were 60-70% confluent, and the definitive endoderm protocol was applied to the cells. Specifically, two days of 100 ng/ml Activin A, 10 ng/ml Wnt3a and 0.5% FBS in DMEM:F12 medium was added, 100 ul per well followed by three day treatment with 100 ng/ml Activin A and 2% FBS in DMEM:F12 medium. The cells were then removed with TrypLE™ Express and analyzed by FACS for CXCR4, CD99 and CD9 expression (FIG. 9A-9C). Greater than 90% of the cells expressed CXCR4 and CD99. Less than 8% of the cells expressed CD9, as expected. Seeding single H1 cells on MEF feeders improves definitive endoderm differentiation as determined by CXCR4 positive cell numbers.

Example 12 Differentiating hES Single Cells in 96 Well Plates

One common difficulty with passage of hES cells as clusters is that they are difficult to quantify and do not grow at even rates. Single cells have the advantage that they can grow to a confluent monolayer and can be counted before passage to ensure equal seeding for experimental purposes. These attributes are a prerequisite for successful screening validation.

hES H9scp18 were seeded into Packard View 96-well plates (Perkin-Elmer) coated with 1:30 growth factor reduced MATRIGEL™ at a density of 14,000 cells/cm². The cells were grown for three to four days in MEF conditioned medium and then treated using a DE differentiation protocol. A subset of 40 wells was treated with a standard protocol (10 ng/ml Wnt3a, 100 ng/ml Activin A, and 0.5% FBS in DMEM:F12 for two days). A second subset of 40 wells was treated with the GSK3b inhibitor IX (100 nM; EMD Chemicals, La Jolla, Calif.) instead of Wnt3a. This was followed by treatment for both subsets for three days with 100 ng/ml Activin A and 2% FBS in DMEM:F12. At the end of culture, cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde at room temperature for 20 minutes, washed three times with PBS, and stored in 100 ul PBS overnight. Cells were permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 (Sigma-Aldrich), either at room temperature for 20 minutes or at 4° C. for five minutes, then washed three times with PBS and blocked with 4% chicken serum (Invitrogen-Gibco, Carlesbad, Calif.) in PBS for 30 minutes at room temperature. Primary antibodies (goat-anti-hSox17 (R&D Systems) were diluted and added in 4% chicken serum at 1:100 dilution for 1 hr at room temperature. The secondary antibody, Alexa Fluor 488 chicken-anti goat IgG (Invitrogen-Molecular Probes, Carlesbad, Calif.) was diluted 1:200 in PBS and added to the cells after washing 3 times with PBS. To counterstain the nuclei, 5 μM Draq5 (Alexis Platform, Läufelfingen, Switzerland) was added to the cells for 5 minutes at room temperature. Cells were washed once with PBS and left in 100 μl/well PBS for imaging to determine the number of differentiated DE cells. The plate was read on an IN Cell 1000 Analyzer (GE Healthcare; Piscataway, N.J.) for well-to-well quantification of cell number (FIG. 10A) and Sox17 staining (FIG. 10B). Treatment with Wnt3a resulted in the highest number of cell nuclei per well with little variability between wells (FIG. 10A). Treatment with the Gsk3β inhibitor showed poor cell viability. Clearly, Wnt3a treatment allows single ES cells to form DE in a robust and reproducible manner in a 96 well format.

Example 13 Screening Assays with hES Single Cells

After demonstrating that single cells are amenable to seeding and differentiation in 96 well format, sensitivity to treatment with novel compounds was determined. hES H9scp19 were seeded into 96 well plates coated with 1:30 growth factor reduced MATRIGEL™ at a density of 14,000 cells/cm². The cells were grown for 3-4 days in MEF conditioned medium and then processed in a DE differentiation experiment. A total of 13 novel compounds were tested in triplicate at a concentration of 1 or 3 substituting the small molecule inhibitor for Wnt3a in the DE differentiation protocol. Wells containing Wnt3a (10 ng/ml) or Gsk3b inhibitor IX (100 nM) were used as positive controls. All differentiation wells were treated with a single compound plus 100 ng/ml Activin A and 0.5% FBS in DMEM:F12 for two days followed by two days in the absence of compound with 100 ng/ml Activin A and 2% FBS in DMEM:F12. At the end of the protocol, the cells were fixed, permeabilized, blocked, and stained as described in example 11 above to determine Sox 17 expression and nuclei. The plate was then read on an IN Cell 1000 Analyzer. This screen indicated that H9scp21 responded to 3 of 13 compounds in a manner similar to Wnt3a in the DE differentiation protocol (FIG. 11). Compound A was effective at the 1 μM lower dose whereas compounds B and C were effective at both 1 and 3 μM. In the effective treatment range (greater than 60% Sox17 positive cells), the standard deviation between wells was small. Thus, single cells are consistent in their ability to identify novel compounds through screening techniques.

Example 14 Expansion of Single hES Cells in Roller Bottles

To facilitate scale up for manufacturing goals, hES cells need to be easily expanded into large quantities. Currently, collagenase treatment to passage hES cells is not amenable to scale-up in roller bottles or shaker flasks. HES cells repeatedly expanded and grown as single cells have the ability to adhere evenly to different surfaces. In this example, roller bottles were tested as potential scale-up vessels. H9scp19 were seeded at 14,000 cells/cm² into a 480 cm² roller bottle (6.7×10⁶ cells; Corning, Acton, Mass.) coated with 1:30 reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™. Volumes of 100 ml of MEF conditioned medium per bottle were used to maintain the cells, changed every two days. The bottles were set at 20 rev/hr for 24 hrs and increased to 60 rev/hr for the remaining time. The cells adhered evenly to the roller bottle and visibly expanded over the four day evaluation period. The cells were removed using TrypLE™ Express and counted. Recovery counts indicated 13×10⁶ cells per bottle were obtained, indicating a minimal doubling of the cells occurred compared to the original seeding. It is estimated that less than half of the initially seeded cells attached to the roller bottle, suggesting that a larger actual cell expansion occurred in the roller bottles. This demonstrates that hES cells passed as single cells can be expanded in an automated roller bottle system. Further experiments to determine the expansion rate along with maintenance of pluripotency will be conducted.

Example 15 Transfection of Single hES Cells

Introducing DNA into cells to make transgenic cell types is a useful feature. The DNA may contain an expression vector or a reporter gene to facilitate differentiation or to allow selection of the cells. hES cells have proven difficult to transfect in clusters. However, hES single cells may be more amenable to transfection techniques.

H9p33 cells were passed with TrypLE™ Express and seeded at 20,000 cells/cm² onto a 1:30 reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™ coated plate. H9p33 cells were passed with collagenase and seeded from one 6 cm plate into one well of a 6 well plate coated with 1:30 reduced growth factor MATRIGEL™. After 3 days, the cells were transfected with CMV-GFP, where GFP is expressed in every cell under the CMV viral promoter. Specifically, 2 or 4 μg of DNA was diluted in 250 μl Opti-MEM medium and 8 μl of Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) into 250 μl Opti-MEM. The mixtures are combined after five minutes at room temperature. The combined reagents were incubated for 20 minutes at room temperature before adding to the cells cultured in two ml of MEF-conditioned media. The medium was replaced with MEF conditioned medium every 24 hours thereafter. After three days, the cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde at room temperature for 20 minutes then washed two times with PBS and left in PBS at 4° C. overnight. To counterstain the nuclei, 5 μM Draq5 (Alexis Platform) was added to the cells for five minutes at room temperature. Cells were washed once with PBS and left in 1 ml/well PBS for imaging on the IN Cell 1000 Analyzer to determine transfection efficiency (FIG. 12). HES single cells show a two-fold improvement in transfection efficiency over hES clusters. Therefore, hES single cells have an improved transfection capacity and are easier to genetically modify. With optimization, perhaps using other transfection methods or regents, it may be possible to achieve a more dramatic improvement of single cell ES cell transfection.

Example 16 Conversion of hES Cell Clusters Cultured on a Feeder Cell Layer to Single hES. Cells Cultured on an Extracellular Matrix Requires Removal of Feeder Cells

The passage of mammalian cells with enzymes such as trypsin, recombinant trypsin (TrypLE™), or Accutase™ (invertebrate derived trypsin-like enzyme) is the current standard for cell culture of both primary and immortalized cell lines in research and manufacturing settings. These enzymes produce a homogenous single cell suspension of cells that can be counted, analyzed, manipulated and passaged in a reproducible manner amenable to plating in settings as diverse as a high throughput format 384 well plate or a multi-liter scaleable culture vessel.

Given the obvious advantages of single cell passage, there is considerable interest in developing a method pass human embryonic stem cells as single cells. However, current best practices with human embryonic stem cells require that the cells be passaged in clusters by either manual disruption or passage with an enzyme (collagenase or neutral protease) that maintains clusters of embryonic cells. Past research in this area has resulted in the derivation of cells that can be passaged as single cells onto feeders (Cellartis SCEDTM461 line), or derivation of single cells from collagenase passed clusters to single cells on MATRIGEL™ with Accutase™ (R. Bajpai et al., 2008).

Herein is an attempt to develop a single cell passage method to take hES cells directly from feeders to matrigel in a bulk passage method using either TrypLE™ or Accutase™. The results indicate that taking cluster style feeder based passage of hES cells directly to MATRIGEL™ using either TrypLE™ or Accutase™ bulk passage without an intermediate step of cluster based collagenase passage onto MATRIGEL™ is inefficient due to the appearance of a differentiated cell population and is therefore less likely to result in a homogenous and robust hES cell culture.

Results

In an effort to move to a feeder free culture of hES cells from a feeder based culture, H1 passage 37 hES cells that had been supported by a MEF feeder layer in hESC media and grown for 5 days on 10 cm² wells of 6 well plates were passaged. The cells were passaged with either TrypLE™, Accutase™, or 1 mg/ml of collagenase.

Before adding enzyme to the cells, the spent media was aspirated, 1 ml PBS (no Ca²⁺, or Mg²⁺) was added to each well, was aspirated again, and then 1 ml of room temperature enzyme (collagenase, Accutase™, or TrypLE™) was added. Accutase™ or TrypLE™ were used at stock concentration after reaching room temperature. Collagenase was removed from −80° C. freezer, thawed, mixed with 9 ml DMEM/F12, sterile filtered, and allowed to reach room temperature before use.

The cells were incubated in enzyme at 37° C. for 10 min. Accutase™ or TrypLE™ caused all the cells to completely lift from the dish after a 10-minute treatment. Collagenase did not lift cells after 10 minutes incubation, so the cells were scrapped with a 10 ml glass pipette after 10-minute incubation. One ml of 2% Probumin in DMEM-F12 was added to each well and the combined total volume in the well was transferred to a 50 ml sterile conical tube, making sure to lift and suspend as many cells as possible.

The cells were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 200×g followed by an additional wash with 2% Probumin and centrifugation for 5 minutes at 200×g. Cell were then resuspended in MEF conditioned media and plated at a 1 to 3.5 ratio onto MATRIGEL™ (1:30 dilution in DMEM) coated T25 flasks, and placed in a 37° C., 5% CO2, humidified incubator.

Cell number was calculated by counting with an Improved Neubauer hemocytomer. Cells that were lifted with Accutase™ had a density of 3.8 million cells/10 cm² well. Cells that were lifted with TrypLE™ had a density of 3.7 million cells/10 cm² well. Collagenase was not countable by hemocytometer due to colony style. Given a 1 to 3.5 split ratio, we plated the Accutase treated cells at a seeding density of 2.72 million cells/T25flask or 108,000 cells/cm², the TrypLE™ treated cells at a seeding density 2.65 million cells/T25flask or 105,000 cells/cm². It is assume that Collagenase treated wells were seeded at a similar density (105,000 to 108,000 cells/cm²), since there was no appreciable difference in hES density from well to well before enzyme treatment. An additional flask was plated with Collagenase lifted cells for counting purposes at the next passage.

Cells were maintained for 4 days with daily changes of MEF conditioned media supplemented with 16 μg/ml of bFGF. After 4 days in culture the cultures were confluent, and the single cell treated hES cells formed monolayers of hES cells with occasional pockets of fibroblasts, while the cluster passaged hES cells formed large colony style clusters of hES cells (FIG. 13). These cells were then passaged again.

As previously described, the cells were incubated in enzyme at 37° C. for 10 min. Accutase™ and TrypLE™ caused cells to lift from plastic and MATRIGEL™ after a 10-minute treatment. Collagenase did not lift cells, so cells were further incubated for 45 minutes in total at 37° C. The additional collagenase flask was lifted with Accutase™. The single cells were then with an Improved Neubauer hemocytometer.

Two ml of 2% Probumin in DMEM-F12 was then added to each flask after enzyme incubation, the total volume (˜4 ml) from the flask was pipetted up and down 5-10 times in order to suspend as many cells as possible. The suspension was then transferred to a 50 ml conical tube and centrifuged for 5 min at 200×g. Cells were then resuspended in MEF conditioned media supplemented with 16 μg/ml of bFGF, and then plated to T25 flasks precoated with 1:30 MATRIGEL™ at a ratio of 1:4.

Accutase™ passaged cells, after four days in culture, had a density of 5.6 million cells total (223,000 cell/cm²), TrypLE™ passaged cells, after four days in culture, had a density of 5.05 million cells total (202,000 cell/cm²), and collagenase passaged cells, after four days in culture, had a density of 3.45 million cells total (138,000 cell/cm²). Given that the cells were passaged at a 1:4 ratio, the cells were plated at a density of 58,000 cell/cm² for Accutase™ passage, 51,000 cell/cm² for TrypLE™ passage, and 35,000 cell/cm².

Cells were then grown for an additional 6 days, with daily media change of MEF conditioned media supplemented with 16 ng/ml of bFGF. While Cells passaged with collagenase form large colonies of dense and homogeneous cells and differentiated/fibroblast like cells are rare, cells passaged with Accutase™ or TrypLE™ grew very slowly, and over time stopped growing or were overgrown with fibroblast like cells that likely formed from differentiating hES cells (FIG. 14A-14C).

These results suggest that an intermediate stage of transition from feeders to feeder free (MATRIGEL™) culture using manual passage or enzyme which supports cluster style passage (collagenase or neutral protease) is best to acclimatize cells to feeder free culture on MATRIGEL™ before initiating single cell passage.

Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the various aspects of the invention have been illustrated above by reference to examples and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is defined not by the foregoing description but by the following claims properly construed under principles of patent law.

TABLE 1 CELL RELEASING ENZYME PANEL ENZYME CELL NUMBER (10{circumflex over ( )}5) Collagenase 3.5 TRYPLE SELECT 3.15 TRYPLE EXPRESS 2.6 TRYPSIN/EDTA 0.7 TRYPSIN 0.1

TABLE II Time Course for Enzymatic Passaging of hESC ENZYME 2 MINUTES (10{circumflex over ( )}5) 10 MINUTES (10{circumflex over ( )}5) TRYPLE EXPRESS 2.1 1.3 TRYPLE SELECT 0.75 1.7

TABLE IIIA LIST OF PRIMARY ANTIBODIES USED FOR FACS AND IMMUNOSTAINININGANALYSIS. Antibody Supplier Isotype Clone SSEA-1 Chemicon (CA) Mouse IgM MC-480 SSEA-4 Chemicon (CA) Rat IgM MC-813-70 TRA 1-60 Chemicon (CA) Mouse IgM TRA 1-60 TRA 1-81 Chemicon (CA) Mouse IgM TRA 1-81 TRA 1-85 Chemicon (CA) Mouse IgG1 TRA 1-85 PDGFr-B PDX1 Santa Cruz Goat IgG A-17 Biotechnology, INC Sox 17 R&D Systems Goat IgG CD 9 BD Mouse IgG1 M-L13 CD47 CD56 CD99 CD117 CD184 E-Cadherin

TABLE IIIB LIST OF SECONDARY CONJUGATED ANTIBODIES USED FOR FACS AND IMMUNOSTAINININGANALYSIS. Secondary Conjugated Antibody Supplier Dilution Goat Anti-Mouse IgG APC Jackson ImmunoResearch 1:200 conjugated (PA) Goat Anti-Mouse IgG PE Jackson ImmunoResearch 1:200 conjugated (PA) Donkey anti-rabbit PE or - Jackson ImmunoResearch 1:200 APC conjugated (PA) Donkey anti-goat PE or - Jackson ImmunoResearch 1:200 APC conjugated (PA) Goat anti-mouse IgM PE SouthernBiotech (AL) 1:200 Goat anti-Rat IgM PE SouthernBiotech (AL) 1:200 Goat anti-mouse IgG3 PE SouthernBiotech (AL) 1:200 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for differentiating pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of: a) culturing the pluripotent stem cells as clusters in conditioned medium; b) releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells by treatment with TrypLE™SELECT or TrypLE™EXPRESS in a concentration of from about 0.5 g/l to about 2.5 g/l for two minutes, wherein from 2.6 to 3.15×10⁵ single cells are released from the pluripotent stem cell clusters, and wherein there is no gain of chromosome abnormalities after releasing the single cells from the clusters; and c) differentiating the single pluripotent stem cells plated on a tissue culture substrate into definitive endoderm cells.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells by treatment with TrypLE™SELECT.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells by treatment with TrypLE™EXPRESS.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells by treatment with TrypLE™SELECT or TrypLE™EXPRESS at a concentration of about 0.5 g/l.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells by treatment with TrypLE™SELECT or TrypLE™EXPRESS at a concentration of about 2.5 g/l.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells by treatment with TrypLE™EXPRESS at a concentration from about 1× to about 0.001×.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the pluripotent stem cells are released as single cells by treatment with TrypLE™EXPRESS at a concentration of 1×.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue culture substrate is selected from the group consisting of MATRIGEL™, fibronectin, laminin, human serum and collagen.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tissue culture substrate is MATRIGEL™.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the MATRIGEL™ is used at a dilution from about 1:30 to about 1:10.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the MATRIGEL™ is used at a dilution of 1:10.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the pluripotent stem cells are embryonic stem cells.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the embryonic stem cells are human.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the single pluripotent stem cells are differentiated into definitive endoderm cells by culturing the cells in a medium comprising activin A.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the definitive endoderm cells are further differentiated into one or more of pancreatic endoderm cells, pancreatic endocrine cells, pancreatic hormone-secreting cells or β-cells.
 16. A method for differentiating pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of: a) culturing the pluripotent stem cells as clusters in MEF conditioned medium; b) releasing the pluripotent stem cells as single cells by treatment with a recombinant trypsin for at least two minutes, wherein from 2.6 to 3.15×10⁵ single cells are released from the pluripotent stem cell clusters, and wherein there is no gain of chromosome abnormalities after releasing the single cells from the clusters; and c) differentiating the single pluripotent stem cells plated on a tissue culture substrate or a MEF feeder layer into definitive endoderm cells.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of releasing comprises treatment with TrypLE™SELECT or TrypLE™EXPRESS followed by centrifugation.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of releasing comprises treatment with the recombinant trypsin followed by centrifugation.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of releasing results in no loss in pluripotency.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of releasing results in no loss in pluripotency.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of differentiating the single pluripotent stem cells comprises culturing the cells in a medium supplemented with a Gsk3b inhibitor.
 22. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of differentiating the single pluripotent stem cells comprises culturing the cells in a medium supplemented with a Gsk3b inhibitor.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises passaging the single cells prior to differentiation.
 24. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises passaging the single cells prior to differentiation.
 25. The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises differentiating the single pluripotent stem cells plated on a MEF feeder layer into definitive endoderm cells. 